Russian ballistic missiles strike Ukraine’s largest cities, killing no less than 4 and injuring over 100

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine‘s two largest cities came under attack from Russian hypersonic ballistic missiles on Tuesday morning, killing at least four people and injuring almost 100, officials said, as the war approached its two-year milestone and the Kremlin’s forces stepped up their winter bombardment of city areas.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on his Telegram channel that 4 civilians had been killed and 92 injured within the capital, Kyiv, and in northeastern Kharkiv as hypersonic Kinzhal missiles that may fly at 10 occasions the pace of sound slammed into metropolis blocks.

Russia fired virtually 100 missiles of varied sorts, Zelenskyy stated on X, previously Twitter. He claimed that no less than 70 missiles had been shot down, virtually all of them within the Kyiv space, and stated Western-supplied air protection programs similar to Patriots and NASAMS had saved tons of of lives.

Russia’s Defense Ministry stated it had launched missile and drone strikes on navy industrial services in and round Kyiv. Depots storing missiles and munitions equipped by Ukraine’s Western allies had been additionally focused, it stated.

“The goal of the strike has been achieved, all the targets have been hit,” it stated with out elaborating. It was not doable to independently confirm both facet’s claims.

Since Sunday, Zelenskyy stated, Russian forces have launched about 170 Shahed drones and “dozens of missiles of various types” in an onslaught towards Ukrainian targets. Most had been aimed toward civilian areas, he stated.

The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal is an air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile. Russian forces hardly ever use such costly missiles towards Ukraine resulting from their restricted shares.

The assaults created a desolate morning scene within the capital, with most cafes and eating places remaining closed. Many individuals opted to remain indoors or search refuge in shelters as highly effective explosions shook town from early morning.

Air raid sirens blared for almost 4 hours, and town’s subway stations – which perform as shelters – had been crowded.

After the Ukrainian air power issued warnings about incoming hypersonic missiles, individuals sporting pajamas beneath their coats took sleeping baggage, mats and their pets to subway stations whereas loud explosions echoed above town. At one of many central stations, known as Golden Gates, tons of of individuals stuffed the spacious underground areas whereas trains continued to run.

“Perhaps today was the most frightening because there were so many explosions,” stated resident Myroslava Shcherba.

The barrage prolonged Russia‘s escalated attacks on Ukraine that began Friday with its largest single assault on Ukraine since the war started, in which at least 41 civilians were killed.

The next day, shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod killed more than two dozen people. Russia blamed Ukraine for the attack and has struck back repeatedly since.

The attack on Belgorod was one of the deadliest to take place on Russian soil since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began greater than 22 months in the past. Russian officers stated the dying toll stood at 25 as of Monday, together with 5 kids.

Cities throughout western Russia have commonly come below drone assaults since May, though Ukrainian officers by no means acknowledge duty for strikes on Russian territory or the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

“They want to intimidate us and create uncertainty within our country. We will intensify strikes. Not a single crime against our civilian population will go unpunished,” Putin stated Monday, describing the barrage of Belgorod as a “terrorist act.”

Russia launched about 90 Shahed-type drones throughout Ukraine on Monday.

Putin accused Western nations of utilizing Ukraine to attempt to “put Russia in its place.” While vowing retribution, he insisted Russia would solely goal navy infrastructure in Ukraine. However, Ukraine reviews civilian casualties from each day Russian assaults, which have hit residence buildings, buying facilities and residential areas in small communities.

In different developments, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated one among its warplanes by chance launched munitions over the Russian village of Petropavlovka within the southwestern Voronezh area Tuesday, inflicting no accidents however damaging six homes. The ministry stated a fee has been created to find out the reason for the accident and assess the harm. It didn’t say what kind of munition the warplane dropped.

In April, munitions by chance launched by a Russian warplane induced a strong blast within the border metropolis of Belgorod, damaging a number of automobiles and barely injuring two individuals.

Air raid sirens sounded Tuesday in Belgorod, which is close to the border with Ukraine. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated air protection programs shot down 4 missiles fired by a Ukrainian Vilkha a number of rocket launcher.